Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)

As a mentor at the Order of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, l play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of accounting professionals. I have the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise with aspiring CPAs and guide them as they progress through the CPA program.

Mentor

Xen Accounting

Portfolio company acquired from the Equiom PE Group

Partner - Strategic Advisor

Nex CPA

Boutique financial services for vc backed businesses.

Principal

Vasco

B2B SaaS that engineers growth to scale 10x faster.

Fractional CFO

Equiom Group

A Private Equity Group providing sophisticated clients with professional service expertise.

Managing Director - Canada

Board Member - Canada

MailChannels

MailChannels is a Vancouver-based SaaS company that protects companies against malicious email threats.

- Model budget and cashflow to determine free cashflow and financing needs
- Monthly review of cashflow and month-end discussions held with the CEO
- Budget to actual variance analysis provided to the CEO and Board
- Track key metrics (MRR, MRR Expansion, MRR Retraction, EBITDA, ARPU, ARPA)

Rise Branding

Rise Branding is a Toronto-based branding and communications agency that partners with leading multinationals in the B2B space.

- Financial modeling to determine free cashflow, breakeven analysis, financing needs, and key revenue/direct cost/opex drivers.
- Quarterly review of cashflow needs with CEO
- Budget to actual variance analysis provided to executive management.

Cloud Accounting Firm that is 100% digital. Acquired by the Equiom Group on Nov. 1, 2018.

- Startup ecosystem in tech, fintech, and venture capital 
- Advisory & consulting services (financial modelling, SRED, fractional CFO)
- Reporting (financial statements, quarterly reports to limited partners, board packages)
- Tax (indirect, direct, payroll)

Senior Manager

Aon Risk Solutions

NYSE: AON
- Full cycle accounting under IFRS
- Budgets, fixed assets, month-end
- Federal excise tax

Senior Accountant

BMO Wealth Management - Canada

TSX: BMO
- Analyze equities
- Operated in the money market funds, equities, and derivatives.
- Licensed investment representative with IIROC

Equity Specialist

Startup advisor

I help modern businesses scale by optimizing their cash flow, finops technology, and tax compliance.

Hasan Shahariar, CPA

In April, Sonder (Airbnb rival) said it had entered its “next era.”
By November, it entered bankruptcy court.

Just months ago, the hospitality startup announced $18 million in new financing and a partnership with Marriott that promised to “redefine modern travel.”

They called it a transformation — complete with talk of “balance sheet strength,” “synergies,” and “long-term value creation.”

Then, last week, guests at Sonder properties got emails telling them to pack up and leave by 9 a.m.
Some found their luggage in hallways. Others paid thousands to rebook last-minute.
The “next era” didn’t last long.

This isn’t just another scaleup flameout.
It’s a reality check for a culture that still confuses raising money with making money.

Sonder wasn’t short on vision or capital — it was short on sustainability.
And when a business is built on narratives instead of numbers, every new round just buys time, not traction.
Because capital is a magnifier.
If your model is strong, it fuels growth.
If it’s weak, it speeds up the crash.

So here’s the real takeaway for founders:
Your next funding announcement shouldn’t sound like a finish line.
It’s the starting gun — and the clock’s already ticking.

Hasan Shahariar, cpa

I advise vc backed startups and build their accounting architecture.

Sometimes I sit down as a CPA, list out all the taxes we pay in Canada, and genuinely wonder if the government is trying to speedrun every possible revenue tool in the OECD.

Income tax? Of course.
Sales tax? Mandatory.
CPP, EI, EHT, WSIB? Naturally.
Carbon tax? Twice, if you’re in the wrong province.
Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, luxury goods? Taxed, taxed, and extra taxed. Property tax? Absolutely.
Vacancy tax? Spice it up.
Import duties?  Chef’s kiss.

The list goes on and on.

At some point, you stop reading the list and start laughing like you're in a Marvel movie post-credit scene...because there’s always one more!

And what’s eye-popping is when you compare us to similar countries:

Germany
Higher taxes in some areas, BUT universal healthcare that works, high-speed rail, vocational training pipelines, and infrastructure that isn't collapsing.

Australia
Lower overall tax burden than Canada, with faster healthcare access, and simpler business regulation.

New Zealand
Simpler tax code, fewer layers, better digital government services. And nobody there has ever heard of “Part VI.1 tax,” which already puts them ahead.

Meanwhile, here in Canada? We’re paying for public services that feel increasingly stretched, delayed, or just plain confusing.

I love this country, truly.

But even as a CPA, when I map out all the taxes individuals and businesses pay, my reaction is basically:

“This system is crazy.”

If Canadians are going to keep funding this many revenue streams, we should at least expect transparency, simplicity, and services that match what other advanced economies have already figured out.

When Ottawa says it’s “spending less to invest more,” my accountant brain twitches a little — because just a few pages later, they reveal a $78 billion deficit.

That’s like saying you’re cutting back on coffee…while financing a Tesla.

For years, federal budgets have been about rescue. Subsidies, grants, wage supports — lifelines for small business owners trying to survive inflation and high interest rates.

But this one feels different.

Budget 2025 quietly shifts Canada from rescue mode to builder mode — from handouts to productivity bets.

Ottawa’s pouring billions into what it calls “nation-building” priorities:
$115B in infrastructure
$25B in housing
$30B in defence
$110B in productivity and competitiveness

This is a map of where opportunity will flow next.
If you’re in construction, logistics, clean tech, AI, or advanced manufacturing, these investments ripple right into your world.

If not, you’ll still feel it — stronger supply chains, new contracts, and a bigger push for domestic production.

The fine print?
It’s designed to crowd in private investment, not hand it out.
BDC gets another $1B for venture funding.
EDC gets $2B for export financing.
Procurement rules are changing so small suppliers can finally compete.
Instant expensing stays.
And soon, investors will be able to use RRSPs and TFSAs to invest in private small businesses.

It’s quiet, but it’s powerful. Ottawa’s betting on builders.

Every budget tells a story about who a country chooses to bet on.
This year, that story points squarely at entrepreneurs.
The question is — are you?

Because this isn’t a budget for spectators.
It’s a budget for builders.

Dreamstate Agency

Dreamstate Agency helps professional services businesses stand out and get found online.

Key responsibilities: Web design, branding, marketing strategy.

Founder

Panache Ventures

Panache Ventures is Canada's most active seed-stage venture capital fund.

Key responsibilities: Content creation, digital marketing, event planning.

Marketing Strategist

English Montreal School Board

EMSB is the largest English public school board in Quebec.

Key responsibilities: Short-term replacements for adult education English classes.

Adult Education Teacher

Sherweb

Key responsibilities: Development and execution of marketing strategies for PurelyHR. Assist in outbound and inbound marketing activities. Analyze marketing data.

Product Marketing Strategist, PurelyHR

Sherweb is a world-leading cloud solutions provider created in Quebec with a presence around the world. 

Key responsibilities: Manage the company's presence at tradeshows. Develop lead-generation strategies for events. Management of the SMB Masters Trainings, held in partnership with Microsoft. Planning and management of other events and roadshows across Canada and the US.

Event Marketing Specialist

Institut Trebas Institute

Trebas Institute is a private, post-secondary college specializing in the recording arts with campuses in Montreal and Toronto.

Key responsibilities: Teach courses in the Music Business Administration program. Plan lessons, create course content, and attend pedagogical training. Students performance evaluations.

Instructor, MBA

Concordia University

Concordia University is a public comprehensive research university located in Montreal.

Key responsibilities: Oversee event planning of a multitude of event types (in-person, virtual, hybrid). Provide a one-stop shop for client events by planning and overseeing all logistics. Liaise with internal and external suppliers, and manage budgets. Meet with clients and provide information on event-related matters. Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with regulations, laws, and protocols. Create event web pages and manage content.

Event Coordinator, Conference Services

Key responsibilities: Virtual and hybrid event production. Support for Homecoming, Gift Announcements, and other events. Technical production support. Help increase the production value of virtual and hybrid events.

Event Coordinator, University Advancement 

McGill University

The Faculty of Medicine is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University. It was the first medical faculty to be established in Canada.

Key responsibilities: Act as the point person at McGill Medicine's Alumni Office. Plan the Medicine Homecoming class reunion events. Work closely with the class representatives/volunteers of each reunion class. Provide administrative support to the Homecoming & Reunion Class Giving program. Help draft class communications and solicitation letters. Edit the McGill Medicine Homecoming webpage. Assist with social media and marketing strategies. Make cold calls to raise event attendance.

Administrative Coordinator, University Advancement, Faculty of Medicine

GURUS Solutions (NetSuite Solution Provider)

GURUS Solutions is a 5-star NetSuite ERP & Dell Boomi partner working to scale up businesses with Cloud tech.

Key responsibilities: Plan and create detailed plans for all events, within and outside of Canada. Plan and execute trade show booths and train booth staff. Identify and secure speakers, special guests, and/or entertainment for each event. Coordinate with all internal and external stakeholders. Build and manage the company’s social media profiles and presence. Create landing pages, update the website, and optimize for organic search. Consulting and support for HR initiatives such as recruiting events and internal activities. Manage email marketing drip programs and execute marketing campaigns.

Marketing Events Specialist

RAW:natural born artists

RAW Artists (RAW:natural born artists) is an international arts organization that operates in the United States, Canada, Australia and Mexico.

Key responsibilities: Event management and production. Artist recruitment and support. Stage management, communications, and PR. Social media management and marketing strategy.

Montreal Showcase Director

Enablon

Enablon, a Wolters Kluwer business, is the world's leading provider of Sustainability, EHS and Operational Risk Management Software.

Key responsibilities: Drive attendance to the largest sustainability conference in North America. Interview and train staff. Provide event support.

Event Specialist

Product Marketing Strategist at PurelyHR | Web Designer | Content Creator

I am a highly creative and results-driven digital marketing strategist, passionate about leveraging organic strategies to fuel business growth. 

My career spans diverse industries, from tech companies to nonprofits to some of Canada’s leading institutions, providing me with a versatile perspective on digital marketing.

I founded Dreamstate Agency to help service-based businesses stand out online. 

Recognitions:
- Top 10 Young Alumni To Watch, Concordia University (2017)
- Entrepreneur of the Month, YES Montreal (2020)

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Hasan Shahariar, CPA

Alessia Priolo

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The Battle

Hasan Shahariar, CPA

Alessia Priolo

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Hasan Shahariar, CPA's LinkedIn Performance

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